Big Wave Skiing?

[nugblaster]

Mike Douglas and Cody Townsed have apparently succeeded at towing into some big waves on skis. Sounds gnarly. Check out the ski setup, looks pretty ridiculous. Anyone heard of this or have more info or secret footage?

http://www.theskichannel.com/news/sk...e-on-a-mission

[DeeAre]

Innovative & rowdy for sure. But I keep seeing rollerblading...

[RockBoy]

First thing that came to mind was - How difficult is it to swin in ski boots?
Second thing that came to mind was - Why not just use water skis?

I would like to see the vid as well. Very curious.

[mntlion]

http://www.codytownsend.com/

[Blurred]

Innovative & rowdy for sure. But I keep seeing rollerblading...

Minus the waves, the skis and lack of rollerblades of course.....

Why does everyone think snowboarding is so cool, and skiing is so lame, yet skiing waves isn't cool compared to surfing? I think the first time you see someone dropping into Jaws on skis, your thoughts might change.

Kudos to Mike D and Alka.....this is something I've thought about for a very long time, and I'd definitely like to try it as well

[Sirshredalot]

That is awesome. I always figured that big-wave skiing would be a.) doable and b.) totally badass. I can't wait to see footage.

[grubbers]

i mean if they are having fun, then more power to them.

just don't expect to see me ever wanting to try it, i'll stick to surfing.

[Crampedon]

From the sound of Jaws this morning it would be a good day to try. No wind and double over head at Ho'okipa. Heard the rocks rolling all night long from my house.

Warning: crazed local Maui kite sailor ( highly skilled) moved to Vail last week, will be busting out a kite and strapping something to his feet. Eesh.
If he gets dragged and wrapped around some beetle kill show him some mercy!

[ill-advised strategy]

this has been in my mind a lot over the last 5 months of learning to surf.

I can't even wait...cant. even. wait! to see the footage.

LEAK IT! LEAK THE FOOTAGE!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! DO IT!!!!!!!

[thefrush]

I think this will be featured on Salomon Freeski TV. I thought I saw a glimpse of it in their teaser.

[BigDaddy]

This sounds good. Post it, already.

[hafilax]

That's cool. It's about time somebody did it. The danger factor must go up with ski boots on.

I still prefer paddle in surfing but I can respect wanting to get on those giants.

[Mofro261]

Binders mounted on water skis.



damn looks like a fun time though.

[Tap]

this is what I saw....

I think the first time you see someone dropping into Jaws on acid, your thoughts might change.

looks cool...maybe skiers can carve it up differently, or go faster.

wouldn't want to wipe out hard on them. ouch.

[Alkasquawlik]

Why does everyone think snowboarding is so cool, and skiing is so lame, yet skiing waves isn't cool compared to surfing? I think the first time you see someone dropping into Jaws on skis, your thoughts might change.

Kudos to Mike D and Alka.....this is something I've thought about for a very long time, and I'd definitely like to try it as well

Completely agree with you there Blurred. I'm am too tired of the played out 'cool' scales that predetermine most peoples perceptions of anything.

Anyways, unfortunately I don't think we will be towing Jaws. Although I in many ways would like to get a crack at it, to tow at Peahi is a task that takes a lot of time spent in Maui, serious earned respect and much blessing from the locals. But, we still get a crack at a multitude of large waves that are managing to scare us quite enough.

As far as all the benefits and difficulties of skiing on waves. I'll draw something up on my blog in the near future to describe the intricacies of this nearly year long project.

In the mean time, tomorrow's supposed to be bigger...

[huckasoreass]

Completely agree with you there Blurred. I'm am too tired of the played out 'cool' scales that predetermine most peoples perceptions of anything.

Anyways, unfortunately I don't think we will be towing Jaws. Although I in many ways would like to get a crack at it, to tow at Peahi is a task that takes a lot of time spent in Maui, serious earned respect and much blessing from the locals. But, we still get a crack at a multitude of large waves that are managing to scare us quite enough.

As far as all the benefits and difficulties of skiing on waves. I'll draw something up on my blog in the near future to describe the intricacies of this nearly year long project.

In the mean time, tomorrow's supposed to be bigger...

Just wanted you to know, we're all counting on you. By the way, didn't Chuck Patterson tow on waterskis at Jaws several years ago? I recall him talking about how it wasn't really working--the skis seemed a little slow compared to a surfboard. Perhaps your gear is a little more dialed than conventional waterskis.

[splat]

What's your reef exposure at the bottoms of the waves, Cody?
And are you wearing ski boots???

[Ed el Loco]

Cant wait to see the video, Sounds like a trip. I can't help but wonder, if you end up eating it under a 25+ foot wall of water will you be able to swim in the ski boots? Looks like regular ski boots and Solly binding to me.

[bossass]

^Them are wakeskis if I ever saw wakeskis. Hyperlite and Stereo make them.

[Alkasquawlik]

Huck- Yeah a few more seasoned big wave surfers have attempted this feat but from what I've gathered over time is that they've all mainly failed quite miserably. And it wasn't Chuck that attempted Jaws but Cambell Farrell. He was the one that got sucked up the face and spit off the lip to the all the way bottom. Chuck also tried the ski thing a few years ago but was also halted by the certain disadvantages of skis. Mike and I took a little of the info we had heard and spent the past year brainstorming and testing to overcome the hardships of skiing on a wave. So here we are, trying it out.

And to all, yes we are in ski boots and yes it is really hard to swim in them and talking big waves on the head with ski boots on sucks donkey balls.

Boss- We also are using custom designed skis in addition to the skis you mention. Actually I'm exclusively using the custom skis.

[todug27]

compared to so many of the non-ski ski movie segments of years past, i will very much be looking forward to seeing this video.

[bossass]

^Alk, yeah, I was gonna add the other pic is obviously something custom. Looks like it what you would need to do to get speed on those waves. Two little surfboards instead of one big one.

[ill-advised strategy]

Anyways, unfortunately I don't think we will be towing Jaws. Although I in many ways would like to get a crack at it, to tow at Peahi is a task that takes a lot of time spent in Maui, serious earned respect and much blessing from the locals.

We should all remember that when surfers are gaping around our skiing.

If people want to be like that, it ought to be both ways.

I don't know, I thought I remembered catching some idea that they had the whole idea of the small tow-in board from snowboarding...fine, if they want to be territorial about their surf spot that's a two way street.

[Alkasquawlik]

We should all remember that when surfers are gaping around our skiing.

If people want to be like that, it ought to be both ways.

I don't know, I thought I remembered catching some idea that they had the whole idea of the small tow-in board from snowboarding...fine, if they want to be territorial about their surf spot that's a two way street.

Actually Yeti it is no way about localism, the people around here have been super supportive and welcoming of our project, it's more about respect for the wave. I mean sure, yeah we could probably tow in successfully out there, but in reality we have no business being out there. There are certain protocols of ability that are mandatory to be out there that include not just the ability to ride a wave.

It's similar to knowing how to tie a prusik knot while traveling in glacier terrain. Sure you'll probably make it across the glacier cause you know how to slide a pair of skis over flat ground, but if you don't make and you don't know how to tie that knot than you shouldn't be out there.

[powdork]

is that the new salomotama i've heard so much about?